Folding rocking chair

ABSTRACT

A folding rocking chair includes a curved band, left front rod, right front rod, left rear rod, right rear rod, frame rod, left handrail rod, right handrail rod, left front handrail support rod, right front handrail support rod, left rear handrail support rod, right rear handrail support rod, back rest rod, left frame connecting element, right frame connecting element, left engaging element, right engaging element, frame support portion and back rest support portion. Owing to the left frame connecting element, right frame connecting element, left engaging element and right engaging element, all the rods can pivotally bend relative to each other to allow the folding rocking chair to change from an unfolded state to a folded state. Therefore, the folding rocking chair takes up little space and is easy to transport and store.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 107145446 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on Dec. 17, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a rocking chair and, more particularly, to a folding rocking chair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional rocking chair, which is often found at home, has two curved bands connected to the bottom of the legs of the rocking chair. The curved bands contact the floor at only two points, giving the occupant the ability to rock back and forth.

With its curved bands being connected to its legs, the rocking chair is bulky and thus not only takes up much space while being transported but is also difficult to store indoors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a folding rocking chair which is compact and easy to store.

In order to achieve the above and other objectives, the present disclosure provides a folding rocking chair, comprising: a curved band, a left front rod, a right front rod, a left rear rod, a right rear rod, a frame rod, a left handrail rod, a right handrail rod, a left front handrail support rod, a right front handrail support rod, a left rear handrail support rod, a right rear handrail support rod, a back rest rod, a left frame connecting element, a right frame connecting element, a left engaging element, a right engaging element, a frame support portion and a back rest support portion, wherein a lower end of the left front rod, a lower end of the right front rod, a lower end of the left rear rod and a lower end of the right rear rod are pivotally connected to the curved band, wherein an upper end of the left front rod and a lower end of the left front handrail support rod are connected to the left front end of the frame rod through the left frame connecting element, wherein an upper end of the right front rod and a lower end of the right front handrail support rod are connected to the right front end of the frame rod through the right frame connecting element, wherein an upper end of the left rear rod and a lower end of the left rear handrail support rod are connected to a left rear end of the frame rod through the left engaging element, wherein an upper end of the right rear rod and a lower end of the right rear handrail support rod are connected to a right rear end of the frame rod through the right engaging element, wherein an upper end of the left front handrail support rod and an upper end of the left rear handrail support rod are pivotally connected to the left handrail rod, wherein an upper end of the right front handrail support rod and an upper end of the right rear handrail support rod are pivotally connected to the right handrail rod, wherein the back rest rod is pivotally connected to a rear end of the frame rod, a rear end of the left handrail rod and a rear end of the right handrail rod, wherein the frame support portion is disposed at the frame rod, and the back rest support portion is disposed at the back rest rod.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the left engaging element comprises a pivotal connection portion, an extension portion and a pin, the extension portion extending from the pivotal connection portion to therefore connect to the left rear end of the frame rod, the pivotal connection portion being pivotally connected to a lower end of the left rear handrail support rod, the pin being inserted into the pivotal connection portion and the left rear handrail support rod, wherein the right engaging element comprises a pivotal connection portion, an extension portion and a pin, the extension portion extending from the pivotal connection portion to therefore connect to the right rear end of the frame rod, the pivotal connection portion being pivotally connected to a lower end of the right rear handrail support rod, the pin being inserted into the pivotal connection portion and the right rear handrail support rod.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the left engaging element further comprises a spring element and a button, the spring element being disposed at the pivotal connection portion of the left engaging element, wherein two ends of the button are connected to the spring element and the pin, respectively, the pivotal connection portion of the left engaging element is pivotally connected between the two ends of the button, wherein the right engaging element further comprises a spring element and a button, the spring element being disposed at the pivotal connection portion of the right engaging element, the button having two ends connected to the spring element and the pin, respectively, wherein the pivotal connection portion of the right engaging element is pivotally connected between the two ends of the button.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the left frame connecting element comprises an engaging groove for engaging with the left front handrail support rod, and the right frame connecting element comprises an engaging groove for engaging with the right front handrail support rod.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, an upper end of the left front rod, a lower end of the left front handrail support rod and the left front end of the frame rod are coaxially connected, whereas an upper end of the right front rod, a lower end of the right front handrail support rod and the right front end of the frame rod are coaxially connected.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the folding rocking chair further comprises a plurality of fixing rods connected between the left front end and the right front end of the curved band, between the left front rod and the right front rod, and between the left rear rod and the right rear rod, respectively.

Owing to the left frame connecting element, right frame connecting element, left engaging element and right engaging element, all the rods can pivotally bend relative to each other to allow the folding rocking chair of the present disclosure to change from an unfolded state to a folded state. Therefore, the folding rocking chair of the present disclosure takes up little space and is easy to transport and store.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a right engaging element of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the locked right engaging element of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the non-locked right engaging element of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the right frame connecting element of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of how to fold the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of how to fold the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a lateral view of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a lateral view of how to fold the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a lateral view of how to fold the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the support portion of the folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Objectives, features, and advantages of the present disclosure are hereunder illustrated with specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure can be implemented or applied in accordance with any other variant embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made to the details described in the specification from different perspectives and for different applications without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings are deemed illustrative and thus are not drawn to scale. The embodiment presented below is illustrative of the technical features of the present disclosure rather than restrictive of the claims of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 14 are perspective views of a folding rocking chair according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 7 through FIG. 10, and FIG. 14, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the folding rocking chair 100 comprises a curved band S1, a left front rod L1, a right front rod R1, a left rear rod L2, a right rear rod R2, a frame rod S2, a left handrail rod L5, a right handrail rod R5, a left front handrail support rod L3, a right front handrail support rod R3, a left rear handrail support rod L4, a right rear handrail support rod R4, a back rest rod S3, a left frame connecting element CL, a right frame connecting element CR, a left engaging element BL, a right engaging element BR, a frame support portion S4 and a back rest support portion S5. Their connections are described below.

The lower end of the left front rod L1, the lower end of the right front rod L1, the lower end of the left rear rod L2 and the lower end of the right rear rod R2 are pivotally connected to the curved band S1.

An upper end of the left front rod L1 and the lower end of the left front handrail support rod L3 are connected to the left front end of the frame rod S2 through the left frame connecting element CL. An upper end of the right front rod R1 and the lower end of the right front handrail support rod R3 are connected to the right front end of the frame rod S2 through the right frame connecting element CR.

An upper end of the left rear rod L2 and the lower end of the left rear handrail support rod L4 are connected to the left rear end of the frame rod S2 through the left engaging element BL. An upper end of the right rear rod R2 and the lower end of the right rear handrail support rod R4 are connected to the right rear end of the frame rod through the right engaging element BR.

An upper end of the left front handrail support rod L3 and an upper end of the left rear handrail support rod L4 are pivotally connected to the left handrail rod L5. An upper end of the right front handrail support rod R3 and an upper end of the right rear handrail support rod R4 are pivotally connected to the right handrail rod R5.

The back rest rod S3 is pivotally connected to the rear end of the frame rod S2, the rear end of the left handrail rod L5, and the rear end of the right handrail rod R5.

The frame support portion S4 is disposed at the frame rod S2. The back rest support portion S5 is disposed at the back rest rod S3. For instance, the frame support portion S4 and the back rest support portion S5 are made of soft materials, such as fabric and plastic, and thus are coupled to the frame rod S2 to form a cushion and coupled to the back rest rod S3 to form a back rest pad, respectively. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, the frame support portion S4 and the back rest support portion S5 may also be provided in any other appropriate forms.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 11 through FIG. 13, owing to the left frame connecting element CL, right frame connecting element CR, left engaging element BL and right engaging element BR, all the rods can bend relative to each other. The left rear handrail support rod L4 and right front handrail support rod R3, which are pivotally connected to the left engaging element BL and right engaging element BR, respectively, bend forward and downward such that the left rear rod L2 and right rear rod R2 tilt backward. Furthermore, the left rear handrail support rod L4 and right front handrail support rod R3 use the left handrail rod L5 and right handrail rod R5 to drive the rotation of the left front handrail support rod L3 and right front handrail support rod R3, respectively, and use the back rest rod S3 to exert a forward force such that the left front rod L1 and right front rod L1, which are connected to the left front handrail support rod L3 and right front handrail support rod R3, tilt backward. Therefore, the folding rocking chair 100 can fold completely.

Therefore, the folding rocking chair 100 folds, by changing from the unfolded state shown in FIG. 1 to the folded state shown in FIG. 6, so as to take up less space and become easy to transport and store.

FIG. 2 through FIG. 3B are exemplified by the right engaging element BR. Since mirror symmetry is manifested between, and the same structure is shared by, the left engaging element BL and right engaging element BR, the diagrams omit the left engaging element BL. In this embodiment, the left engaging element BL and right engaging element BR each comprise a pivotal connection portion B1, an extension portion B2 and a pin B3. As for the right engaging element BR, the extension portion B2 extends from the pivotal connection portion B1 and thus connects to the right rear end of the frame rod S2, allowing the lower end of the right rear handrail support rod R4 to pivotally connect to the pivotal connection portion B1, and allowing the pin B3 to be inserted into the pivotal connection portion B1 and right rear handrail support rod R4. The right rear handrail support rod R4 has a slot R41 corresponding in position to the pin B3.

Likewise, as for the left engaging element BL, the extension portion B2 extends from the pivotal connection portion B1 and thus connects to the left rear end of the frame rod S2, allowing the lower end of the left rear handrail support rod L4 to pivotally connect to the pivotal connection portion B1, and allowing the pin B3 to be inserted into the pivotal connection portion B1 and left rear handrail support rod L4. Likewise, the left rear handrail support rod L4 has a slot corresponding in position to the pin B3.

Referring to FIG. 3A, when the pin B3 is inserted into the slot R41 of the right rear handrail support rod R4, the right rear handrail support rod R4 is fixed to the pivotal connection portion B1 and thus cannot rotate; hence, the folding rocking chair 100 is in the unfolded state as shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 3B, when the pin B3 separates from the slot R41 of the right rear handrail support rod R4 temporarily, there is only one point of pivotal connection between the right rear handrail support rod R4 and the pivotal connection portion B1; hence, the right rear handrail support rod R4 rotates relative to the pivotal connection portion B1, and thus the folding rocking chair 100 enters the folded state as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 6.

Given the left engaging element BL and right engaging element BR, the pin B3 can be inserted into the slots of the left rear handrail support rod L4 and right rear handrail support rod R4 and thus fixes the left rear handrail support rod L4 and right rear handrail support rod R4 in place or allows the left rear handrail support rod L4 and right rear handrail support rod R4 to movably rotate, thereby allowing the folding rocking chair 100 to stay in the unfolded state or switch to the folded state.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, the right engaging element BR further comprises a spring element B4 and a button B5. The spring element B4 is disposed at the pivotal connection portion B1 of the right engaging element BR. Two ends of the button B5 are connected to the spring element B4 and the pin B3, respectively. The two ends of the button B5 are pivotally connected to the pivotal connection portion B1 of the right engaging element BR. Likewise, the left engaging element BL comprises a spring element B4 and a the button B5. The spring element B4B4 is disposed at the pivotal connection portion B1 of the left engaging element BL. The two ends of the button B5 are connected to the spring element B4 and the pin B3. The pivotal connection portion B1 of the left engaging element BL is pivotally connected between the two ends of the button B5.

The button B5 has a fulcrum B51. When an end of the button B5 (the end is connected to the spring element B4) is pressed under an external force, the other end of the button B5 (the other end is opposite the fulcrum B51 and connects to the pin B3) is lifted by principle of leverage; hence, the pin B3 moves outward and separates from the slot R41, thereby allowing the right rear handrail support rod R4 to be released and thus movably rotated. Therefore, when pressed under an external force, the pin B3 can be easily withdrawn from the slot and then restored to its initial position under a restoring force exerted by the spring element B4, so as to enable the left rear handrail support rod L4 and the right rear handrail support rod R4 to quickly and easily switch between a stationary state and a rotatable state.

Referring to FIG. 4, which is exemplified by the right frame connecting element CR, the diagram omits the left frame connecting element CL, because the left frame connecting element CL and the right frame connecting element CR manifest mirror symmetry and share the same structure. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the right frame connecting element CR comprises an engaging groove C1 for engaging with the right front handrail support rod R3. Likewise, the left frame connecting element CL comprises an engaging groove C1 for engaging with the left front handrail support rod L3. Owing to the engaging groove C1, the right front handrail support rod R3 and left front handrail support rod L3 engage with the engaging groove C1 firmly without rotating whenever the folding rocking chair 100 is in the unfolded state shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 5, folding the folding rocking chair 100 entails exerting an external force on the right front handrail support rod R3 and the left front handrail support rod L3 such that the right front handrail support rod R3 and the left front handrail support rod L3 are disengaged from the engaging groove C1, thereby allowing the right front handrail support rod R3 and the left front handrail support rod L3 to be rotated freely and thus folded. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and thus the engaging groove C1 is subject to changes.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the right front rod R1, the lower end of the right front handrail support rod R3 and the right front end of the frame rod S2 are coaxially connected. Likewise, the upper end of the left front rod L1, the lower end of the left front handrail support rod L3 and the left front end of the frame rod S2 are coaxially connected. Therefore, any two of the right front rod R1, the right front handrail support rod R3 and the frame rod S2 can rotate relative to each other, thereby enhancing the degree of freedom of rotation.

Referring to FIG. 1, the folding rocking chair 100 further comprises a plurality of fixing rods F1, F2 and F3. The fixing rod F1 is connected between the left front end and the right front end of the curved band S1. The fixing rod F2 is connected between the left front rod L1 and the right front rod R1. The fixing rod F3 is connected between the left rear rod L2 and the right rear rod R2. Given the fixing rods F1, F2 and F3, the rocking chair 100 is structurally stable and thus unlike to deform.

The present disclosure is disclosed above by preferred embodiments. However, persons skilled in the art should understand that the preferred embodiments are illustrative of the present disclosure only, but shall not be interpreted as restrictive of the scope of the present disclosure. Hence, all equivalent modifications and replacements made to the aforesaid embodiments shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the legal protection for the present disclosure shall be defined by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding rocking chair, comprising a curved band, a left front rod, a right front rod, a left rear rod, a right rear rod, a frame rod, a left handrail rod, a right handrail rod, a left front handrail support rod, a right front handrail support rod, a left rear handrail support rod, a right rear handrail support rod, a back rest rod, a left frame connecting element, a right frame connecting element, a left engaging element, a right engaging element, a frame support portion and a back rest support portion, wherein a lower end of the left front rod, a lower end of the right front rod, a lower end of the left rear rod and a lower end of the right rear rod are pivotally connected to the curved band, wherein an upper end of the left front rod and a lower end of the left front handrail support rod are connected to the left front end of the frame rod through the left frame connecting element, wherein an upper end of the right front rod and a lower end of the right front handrail support rod are connected to the right front end of the frame rod through the right frame connecting element, wherein an upper end of the left rear rod and a lower end of the left rear handrail support rod are connected to a left rear end of the frame rod through the left engaging element, wherein an upper end of the right rear rod and a lower end of the right rear handrail support rod are connected to a right rear end of the frame rod through the right engaging element, wherein an upper end of the left front handrail support rod and an upper end of the left rear handrail support rod are pivotally connected to the left handrail rod, wherein an upper end of the right front handrail support rod and an upper end of the right rear handrail support rod are pivotally connected to the right handrail rod, wherein the back rest rod is pivotally connected to a rear end of the frame rod, a rear end of the left handrail rod and a rear end of the right handrail rod, wherein the frame support portion is disposed at the frame rod, and the back rest support portion is disposed at the back rest rod.
 2. The folding rocking chair of claim 1, wherein the left engaging element comprises a pivotal connection portion, an extension portion and a pin, the extension portion extending from the pivotal connection portion to therefore connect to the left rear end of the frame rod, the pivotal connection portion being pivotally connected to a lower end of the left rear handrail support rod, the pin being inserted into the pivotal connection portion and the left rear handrail support rod, wherein the right engaging element comprises a pivotal connection portion, an extension portion and a pin, the extension portion extending from the pivotal connection portion to therefore connect to the right rear end of the frame rod, the pivotal connection portion being pivotally connected to a lower end of the right rear handrail support rod, the pin being inserted into the pivotal connection portion and the right rear handrail support rod.
 3. The folding rocking chair of claim 2, wherein the left engaging element further comprises a spring element and a button, the spring element being disposed at the pivotal connection portion of the left engaging element, wherein two ends of the button are connected to the spring element and the pin, respectively, the pivotal connection portion of the left engaging element is pivotally connected between the two ends of the button, wherein the right engaging element further comprises a spring element and a button, the spring element being disposed at the pivotal connection portion of the right engaging element, the button having two ends connected to the spring element and the pin, respectively, wherein the pivotal connection portion of the right engaging element is pivotally connected between the two ends of the button.
 4. The folding rocking chair of claim 1, wherein the left frame connecting element comprises an engaging groove for engaging with the left front handrail support rod, and the right frame connecting element comprises an engaging groove for engaging with the right front handrail support rod.
 5. The folding rocking chair of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the left front rod, a lower end of the left front handrail support rod and the left front end of the frame rod are coaxially connected, wherein an upper end of the right front rod, a lower end of the right front handrail support rod and the right front end of the frame rod are coaxially connected.
 6. The folding rocking chair of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fixing rods connected between the left front end and the right front end of the curved band, between the left front rod and the right front rod, and between the left rear rod and the right rear rod, respectively. 